DARLINGHURST - A Short History

Originally  the great Valley Of Darlinghurst was originally subdivided by Governor Ralph Darling in the mid 1820s when he created 17 allotments of land parcels to house public servants and other private citizens.

With the 17 land grants that Governor Darling  allowed he had strict conditions regarding that there could only be one dwelling per allotment, that each each dwelling should be built facing the city along the ridge, and that the land should have landscaped gardens around.

This changed the whole topography of the area when you sailed into Sydney harbour and Port Jackson  made a great difference from what people could see. It also gave a very strong impression of the colony and the prosperity that you could gain as a free settlers coming to Australia.

it was a very strong a pointer of what you could gain by coming to Australia it was also very strong reminder of what you could also lose

“Larissa” - 27 Nelson Street, Woolahra, New South Wales

LARISSA

“Walsholme” - 12 Lang Road, Centennial Park

“WASHOLME” - 12 Lang Road - Centennial Park

Standing Proud As One Of Lang Roads Finest Federation Mansions “Walsholme” Is Set Amid Manicured Grounds  On A Level Dual Access 950sqm Landholding Overlooking Centennial Park. The Two Storey Romanesque Style Has Been Meticulously Renovated To RevealA Seamless Fusion Of Historic Splendour & Contemporary Luxury.

Grand Formal Rooms Including A Unique Rooftop Terrace And Coach House For Family Living And Large Scale Entertaining. Soak Up Views Of The Park From The Master Balcony, Relax By The Pool or Enjoy The Magical Sunsets Over The City Skyline From The Rooftop Terrae

Nugal Hall - 16-18 Milford Street, Randwick, New South Wale

NUGAL HALL - 16-18 Milford Street, Randwick, New South Wales

Coordinates -

33 Degrees 54 Minutes 55 Seconds South

151 Degrees 14 Minutes 35 Seconds East

Construction Finished - 1853

Architect Mortimer Lewis
Who Also Designed -
- Darlinghurst Courthouse
- Old Darlinghurst Goal
- Richmond Villa - Millers Point
- Bronte House, Bronte
- Newcastle Police Station

THIS IS A LANDMARK GOTHIC REVIVAL MANSION JUST UP THE ROAD FROM ME. AND IT’S SUCH AN EXCEPTIONAL HOME WITH REAL HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE

“NUGAL HALL” IS THE LAST REMAINING GRAND GOTHIC REVIVAL HOME IN RANDWICK. EVERYTHING ELSE HAS BEEN DEMOLISHED.

THIS HOUSE IS A REAL MONUMENT TO TIMELESS CRAFTSMANSHIP, OPULANCE & THE ROMANCE OF A BYGONE ERA IN AUSTRALIA

“NUGAL HALL” HAS BEEN MUCH LOVED AND CAREFULLY RESTORED BY ITS CURRENT OWNERS .

I JUST HOPE TO GOD ITS NOT ANOTHER PIECE OF OUR HERITAGE THAT WILL FALL INTO FOREIGN HANDS WITHOUT A FIGHT.... WHO WILL THEN DO THEIR BEST TO LET IT GET RUNDOWN AND READY TO BE BULLDOZED TO PUT MORE APARTMENTS UP. THATS ALL THEY CARE ABOUT.

I PRAY “NUGAL HALL” WILL BE HERE FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.

The home, which had 12 original principal rooms, maids’ quarters and hidden stairways, featured a grand entry hall, majestic ballroom, formal dining with adjoining sitting room, kitchen with adjoining breakfast room and a formal drawing room.

There was a modernised self-contained section with conservatory, plus a formal servants quarters with a staircase.

The house was built in 1853 for the politician and businessman Alexander McArthur by the colonial architect Mortimer Lewis.

But it then had a series of famous owners: a Randwick mayor, Magnus Peden, and then his son, the politician Sir John Peden; an owner of the Coogee Bay Hotel, Dr Fred Tidswell.

Charles Cosens Spencer, a British-born film exhibitor and producer, called it home in the years leading up to 1918. 

And it then became a convalescent home for returning World War I soldiers.

As at October 2021, Nugal Hall is of State significance in NSW as an example of an impressive two storey mansion constructed of sandstone in the Gothic Revival style. Designed by the colonial architect Mortimer Lewis it was completed in 1853. The original land was a grant to Alexander McArthur, in 1851 by Governor Fitzroy, of 8.3 hectares (20.7 acres). Although not of the very high quality of a few Sydney Gothic Revival houses, Nugal Hall is nevertheless impressive. It is associated with a number of significant people. It is significant in Coogee and Randwick where increasing high rise development has deprived the area of much of its architectural history. The house sits well in its grounds and is visually important locally

The land on which Nugal Hall is built was granted to Alexander (Alex) McArthur in Randwick, over the period 1851–1853, by Governor Fitzroy. The land grants to McArthur involved four lots aggregating to some 8.4 hectares (20.7 acres) acquired by private tender on both sides of Avoca Street (then known as Frenchman's Road). McArthur (also spelled as 'MacArthur' (sic) in documents of the time) was likely investing the significant profits he had achieved at that time as a gold exporter and clothing importer in the great Australian gold rushes that started in early 1851.^[4] The aggregate cost of the four lots was around £1,300.

The land granted to McArthur in Randwick extended from Judge Street to Belmore Road, and from Alison Road to Mear's Avenue. The land was bordered to the east by a 12.1 hectare (30 acre) block of land in Coogee owned by William Charles Wentworth, one of the leading figures in early colonial New South Wales and the richest man in Sydney at that time. Judge Thomas Callaghan bought a 2.1 hectare (5.2 acre) block to the south. Callaghan was another prominent Colonial figure and one of the first three judges in the Sydney Court of General and Quarter Sessions.^[5]

Callaghan described the land at the time as resembling Ireland for its picturesque beauty involving waterfalls and rolling farmland from the top of the Randwick ridge line down to Coogee Beach and the Tasman Sea.^[6] Callaghan named his house there as 'Avoca' after the 'Vale of Avoca' from County Wicklow in Ireland. 'Vale' means valley in Gaelic whilst 'Avoca' is said to mean 'meeting of the waters' or 'great river'. A number of streets in the immediate area were named after Judge Callaghan, including Avoca Street, Judge Street, Milford Street, and Ada Street.

Sandstone from the site on which Nugal Hall was located was used in the construction of a number of houses in the immediate vicinity. Most construction was undertaken by ticket of leave men (convicts on parole) under the supervision of Judge Callaghan. Callaghan presumably had an arrangement to use sandstone from the site of Nugal Hall for the construction of his own nearby sandstone residence 'Avoca' which was built at the same time. The stone for Nugal Hall was therefore quarried on the spot and the foundation of Nugal Hall is securely built on rock.^[1][7]

Nugal Hall was designed by the Colonial Architect, Mortimer Lewis who came to Australia and worked from 1830 to 1861. Nugal Hall was one of his last buildings and was designed at the same time that Lewis was designing and building his own Gothic Revival mansion, known as Richmond Villaon the site of the current NSW Parliament buildings (now relocated to Millers Point). Lewis was a prominent architect in Colonial Sydney and involved in the design of many important government buildings, including the NSW Legislative Council Chamber (1843), the Australian Museum (1843), the Customs House on Circular Quay (1845) and the NSW Treasury Building and Premier's Office (1849). Lewis' residential designs included Bronte House (1838).

At the time of its construction during 1851–53, Nugal Hall was designed as a large two-storey Gothic Revival villa interconnected with a single-storey cottage (that echoed the villa in its design). Both buildings were interconnected with a single-storey servants quarters. The cottage and servants quarters were later subsumed within the two-storey northern extension to the house in 1885-87. The residence sat on the top of a Randwick ridge line with a commanding view over the 'Vale of Coogee' to the Tasman Sea.

Nugal Hall overlooks Wedding Cake Islandand the Coogee land-sea interface, from a ground floor terrace and gardens, ancillary to the east-facing ballroom.^[1][40] The upstairs bedrooms to the east of the house have views over the Coogee basin, including of Coogee beach and out to Wedding Cake Island, while all other upper bedrooms have views that benefit from the location of Nugal Hall at the top of the ridge line above Coogee.^{[citation needed]} The main bedroom has an east facing upper balcony positioned to watch the morning sunrise.^{[citation needed]}

On either side of Nugal Hall's original east entrance are a large ball room and a large formal dining room. An entrance porch and terrace is accessed by french doors from the ball room. The dining room to the north of the entrance has views across the Coogee basin and Coogee Bay, partially obscured by a tree on a neighbouring property, as well as an eastern balcony with sea and beach views. Earlier views of the southern headland of Coogee Bay from the dining room were reduced by construction of a three storey building at 20 Milford Street, but most of that building is located below the line of sight from Nugal Hall due to the greater elevation of Nugal Hall. 20 Milford Street does not obstruct upstairs views. The ball room and terrace to the south of the entrance has views across the Coogee basin and Wedding Cake Island.^[1]

Close up views towards Nugal Hall from the opposite side of Milford Street are largely screened by its elevation above the street, the generous front setback, and the heavily planted front garden. As a result, the house has a high degree of privacy notwithstanding its landmark stature. Nugal Hall is visible from the various locations in the surrounding area, (particularly with night time floodlights) for example from St. Brigid's Church in Brook Street, Coogee and from the Carrington Road/Coogee Bay Road corner, but is not prominent from these distant locations unless floodlit. Any earlier landmark status of the building on the Randwick skyline has been diminished by the volume and scale of surrounding development, including the Sacred Heart Church and the residential flat building at 12 Milford Street. However, Nugal Hall and its iconic palm trees are still a landmark on the hill when driving up Coogee Street.^[1]

14 Jena Gala Road Bellevue Hill

I think for the first time in over 80 years and designed by renowned vessel Leslie Wilkinson this iconic 2700 m² family estate is truly one of the Sydney’s finest.
The extremely versatile configurations includes eight bedrooms to study six bathrooms multiple entertaining reception areas in a self-contained guest apartment.

Flooded with sunshine and embracing spectacular vistas stress from the Opera house to the northern Beaches landscape grounds include waiting on sandstone Terrace in a private I think for the first time in over 80 years and designed by renowned vessel Leslie Wilkinson this iconic 2700 m² family state is truly one of the Sydney‘s finest.
The extremely versatile configurations includes eight bedrooms to study six bathrooms multiple entertaining reception areas in a self-contained guest apartment.

Flooded with sunshine and embracing spectacular visitors stress from the Opera house to the northern Beaches landscape grounds include sweeping on sandstone terrace in a private oh

Trisco historic waterfront state on 3326 m²

 Unique of Sydney is Mr story beautifully preserved waterfront Estates Trisco is a magnificent example of early Victoria Italianate architecture privately message in the exclusive Elizabeth Bay loop designed and built in 1868 my need another tech did the day Thomas Road Alitalia stonemasons the grand sandstone manner was used as naval officer in command of the world Australian Navy in its architectural integrity the resident supposed stately boardroom including seven bedrooms two studies and two kitchens

Del Rio Penthouse, Residence 5 a 22-24 Billyard Avenue Potts Point

 First time offered 25 years and set of approximately 1470 m² for statewide waterfront grounds and spending the whole top floor, this grand north-east facing Tracy residential cases on obstructed views across Sydney Harbour.
Design by J.Spencer stand field in 1928

 Hello penthouse eggs you to charm and sophistication of old world Hollywood.
This bit is supposed to just penthouses just want to 5 whole floor apartments offering little secure access from garage and on street parking permits jetty for water vessel drop off and pick up and spectacular outdoor water salt water spill
Elevator (private lobby and magnificent house like apartment

Cliffbrook - Coogee

Lyons Terrace - Sydney - DEMOLISHED

Lyons Terrace - Liverpool Street 

Drumoyne House -DEMOLISHED

Normanhurst House - Randwick - DEMOLISHED

Barham - Forbes Street - Darlinghurst

Buckinghams Department Store - Oxford Street

"Tusculum" - 

1 - 3 Manning Street - Potts Point

33 Degrees 87'11"S

151 Degrees 22'45"E

Tusculum is named after a town in Alban Hills 10km from Rome. 

Tusculum represents the High Point of Regency Architecture

This design is only 1 of 3 houses left designed by John Verge (1782 - 1861)

It was Built 1830 - 1835 for Alexander Brodie Spark (1792 - 1856)

2 Storey Colonial Regency

Cedar interiors imported from Lebanon, marble for flooring and chimney pieces imported from Tusculum in Italy. 

Normanhurst House - Cnr Alison Road & Cowper St - Randwick - New South Wales

Normanhurst House - Cnr Allison Road And Cowper Street - Randwick NSW 

The Beautiful Mansion named "Normanhurst", was buiilt in 1887 in Alison Road, Randwick On the corner Of Cowpwer Street, which Overlooked The Randwick Racecourse. 

The House Was Designed by the Architect John Kirkpatrick (1856 - 1923) - An Inluential member of the NSW Architecrtural Establishment, with a career spanning over 40 Years. it was for Mr Humphrey Oxenham (1854 - 1923), a Prosperous Bookmkaer and Gambler.  \

Accounts of the house were published in "The Builder & Contratctor's News on 21 May 1887 and "The Illustrated Sydney News" on 15th April 1893. The latter described the house as being built "On the  Italian Villa Style {with}a Frontage of 66ft by a Depth of over 100ft" and explained that "The Front Entrance door leads into a Marble fitted vestibule, from which a charmingly arranged conservatory opens on one side

By 1909, when these phoographs were taken, Normanhurst was the home of Emma Forbes (1855 - 1921) 7 her husband Alexander Forbes (1864 - 1919). Emma who was the Beneficiary Of the Estate of The wealthy Australian Pastoralist James Tyson (1819 - 1898), had reportedly Purchased Normanhurst from Oxenham for 20,000 Pounds in the Furniture, Carriages etc (Reference - The Sydney Morning Herald 6th December 1909 - Page 8)

These Photos Are in a Loose leaf Album, labelled by hand on the cover "Normanhurst Randwick 1909". 

Each photo is moumnted by cut band corners and indivisually labelled. 

The inside of the Album is annotated in biro 

Mr & Mrs Alexander Forbes, Alison Road 

Randwick Racecourse  Sydney 

Mother's Brother 

House Now Gone 

The Sitting Room

Welcome it’s Adrian Bo and this week as part of my local history series, I’m on the corner of Cowper Street and Alison Road to talk about a local legend who once built a mansion right here and lived a very colourful life. Humphrey Oxenham, was born in 1854 in what is now a small village called Wattle Flat in the Bathurst area. His parents had moved there as a result of Gold being discovered in Wattle Flat three years earlier, to mine and make their fortune. During the Gold rush, the population of Wattle Flat swelled to over 20,000 people and gold was still being mined there when the first world war started. The population now is less than 300 people. At 24 years of age, Oxenham heard there was a huge pumpkin at a local hotel, for some reason Humphrey saw this as an opportunity and casually asked the publican what odds he would give him if he could carry the pumpkin on his head from Bathurst to Kelso without it falling off as well as a horse called Goulburn winning the big race of the day. Back in those days entertainment was scarce so such a ridiculous challenge was considered primetime entertainment. The publican offered Oxenham 100 pounds to a shilling, which was the equivalent to 2000-1 odds.

Oxenham used a towel on his head as a cushion for the huge pumpkin and pulled off the feat, after which Goulburn completed the double later that day The winnings were invested in a lifelong career as a bookmaker, racehorse owner and gambler, initially at country race meetings. In 1875 he moved to Sydney after a big win with his horse, Hogmanay and became a good friend of up-and-coming Randwick trainer, Mark Thompson. In 1886 Thompson trained one of Oxenham’s horses “Cerise and Blue” to win the Sydney Cup, a $15,000 prize, which was a fortune back then. That win enabled Thompson to build his new stables on Coogee Street in Randwick which he called “Cerise and Blue.” And Oxenham used his winnings to build a mansion here on the corner of Cowper Street and Alison Road called Normanhurst. The house was built on two acres of land in 1887 using the renowned architect, John Kirkpatrick. The house overlooked Randwick Racecourse between the Denison turn and the Seven Furlong post. The pair went on to win many major races including the Caulfield Cup in 1895 with the mare, Waterfall, which cost only 100 guineas. Thompson was however disqualified by the Jockey Club in 1903 for the inconsistent running of one of his horses. Oxenham had to transfer all his horses as a result to Bert Wills who managed to win the Melbourne Cup with one of them, Arcasia. In the 1890s Oxenham built a business empire around betting shops and a mail-order sweepstakes operation. The racing authorities didn’t like this and tried to bring in legislation to restrict betting to racecourses.

In 1922 and 1924 Normanhurst was sold for subdivision into 10 lots which bordered Prince Street, Cowper Street, Alison Road, William Street and King Street. Fast forward to the modern-day and according to the records, Cowper Street has 497 units and 35 houses, with 60% being owner-occupied. 2021 saw 20 sales on Cowper Street with the highest registered price for a unit being $1.46 million for 1 at 52-54 Cowper Street. The only house to sell last year was number 56 in November. I really hope you’ve enjoyed the story of Humphrey Oxenham and Normanhurst here on the corner of Cowper and Alison. It’s stories like these concerning the area I have spent all my life in, that I aim to keep alive. Please enjoy this beautiful weather and always remember your home is worth more with Adrian Bo.

Side View - Normanhurst - Randwick - 1909







Dining Room - Normnanhurst - Randwick - 1909 





The Front Gates - Normanhurst - Randwick - 1909 





Side View Of The Garden - Normanhurst - Randwick - 1909 







Breakfast Room - Normanhurst - Randwick - 1909 






The Ante Room - Normanhurst - Randwick - 1909 








The Entance Hall - Normanhurst - Randwick - 1909 

“Barham” - Forbes Street - Darlinghurst

"Barham " 

"Barham" was built in 1833 & is the oldest residential building in Darlinghurst. It was purchased by SCEGGS in 1900 & has been part of the school since then. 

The Grand Villa was bought for Sir Edward Deas Thomson, who was granted over 6 acres in the new Darlinghurst Estate in 1831. Thomson was born in Edinburgh and migrated to Australia in 1828-1829 when he was appointed the dual role of Clerk to the Executive and Legislative Councils in NSW on a salary of 600 Pounds a year

Governor Sir Ralph Dowling was very happy with Thomsons hard work & competance & granted him the land in Darlinghurst. John Verge was employed to design "Barham"whicvh was initially leased to Colonel Kenneth Snodgrass, before Thomson moved in with his wife, Anna Maria, the daughter of Sir Richard Bourke. 

When Thomsonleft public office he was elected as Vice Chancellor Of University of Sydney in 1865, retaining his position until he was forced to resign due to ill health in 1873. 

the couple raised their 2 sons and 5 daughters at "Barham" & remained there for 40 Years until Thomsons death in July 1879. He was buried at St Judes Church of England, Randwick

Thomson's daughter, Susan, married William John Maclaey, who was Colonial Secretary Alexander Macleays oldest son. Alexander was granted 54 Acres at Elizabeth Bay and he also employed John Verge To design his Villa. 

After Thomson's death in 1879, "Barham" was purchased by members of the Ogilvie Pastoralist family who then sold it to SCEGGS in 1900 

"Barham" is located just off Forbes Street within the grounds of SCEGGS and not be viewed from the street

BishopsCourt -

Bishops  Court At Darling Point Was The Original Site Where ThoMas Mort Had His Cottage. 

The Original Mansion Was Built In The 1860's And Was Designed By Edmund Blackett. 

"Craigend" - Darlinghurst

Craigend

Pechey family, photographer unknown. Sydney Architecture Images- Demolished. Craigend, Darlinghurst. Built 1829 by Thomas Mitchell, Surveyor-General of NSW. Demolished 1922 for a residential subdivision. Darlinghurst ( in the area of present day Surrey and Caldwell Street

Detail from elevation and plan of a house proposed to be built on Craigend, 1829, Number 12 of the Wolloomooloo Hill allotments. Artist unknown.

Craigend: allotment of over 9 acres granted to Sir Thomas Livingstone Mitchell in 1831.

Craigend was the first home to be built at the highest point of the Darlinghurst Ridge as part of the original development of the area in the 1820s and 1830s. The home was built for Sir Thomas Livingstone Mitchell, who arrived in Australia from Scotland in 1827 after being appointed the colony's Assistant Surveyor-General. 

Mitchell was born in a house called Craigend in the town of Grangemouth, central Scotland, in 1792 and although poor was well educated. He could read in several languages and was proficient in science. 

In his early 20s he was made a lieutenant of the 95th regiment and during the Peninsular war, between France and the allied powers of Spain, Portugal and the United Kingdom, he served in the Spanish towns of Ciudad Rodrigo, Badajoz and Salamanca. 

His main role was to obtain topographical intelligence and these skills were noticed by the Quartermaster General, Sir George Murray, who employed him to produce plans of the major Iberian Peninsular battlefields. 

After his marriage in June 1818, Sir Murray helped him land the role of Assistant Surveyor General in Sydney and in 1827, Mitchell and wife, Mary, arrived in Australia.

Mitchell actively petitioned for land on Woolloomooloo Hill (Darlinghurst) and in 1831 he was authorised to select an allotment. He chose a grant of just over nine acres positioned on the highest point of the ridge, where Royston Street is today.

Mitchell designed the villa, Craigend, and its Parthenon-style portico and elevated position on the hill led it to be known as the Acropolis of Sydney. But Mitchell's wild spending on such a grand mansion led him into financial trouble and in 1837 he was forced to subdivide his nine acres and sell the Craigend estate.

Until then, Mitchell was quite the adventurer. 

The Survey Department was a schmozzle when he arrived. Surveying instruments were few and many of the staff were incompetent, so that title deeds were delayed and doubts and disputes arose about boundary lines. Tent poles were used to measure base lines, and hillsides with lone trees were used as trigonometrical points. 

Mitchell inherited the position of Surveyor General in 1828 and the following year became responsible for the survey of roads and bridges. His work included making changes in the roads from Sydney to Parramatta and Liverpool, as well as plotting new courses to Berrima and Goulburn and a trail from the Blue Mountains to Bathurst. Many of the roads he plotted are much the same as the ones used today.

During his career in the 1830s, Mitchell also made expeditions to central, far-west and north-west NSW, to towns such as Orange, Menindee, Namoi, Tamworth and Narrabri. 

On one expedition in February 1832, two of his party were killed by indigenous Australians near Moree. In March 1835, botanist Richard Cunningham was also killed by Aborigines at Bogan and on the same expedition the party encountered members of the Darling tribe who they described as ''implacably hostile and shamelessly dishonest''. During an affray with the group, shots were fired and several Aborigines were killed and wounded. Mitchell returned home.

Mitchell made a third expedition to plot out parts of the Darling and Murray rivers, but again his party got into strife with the locals and seven Aborigines were killed near Mount Dispersion.

An inquiry conducted into the deaths by the Executive Council in 1836 found that Mitchell had not made sufficient efforts to be conciliatory to the Aborigines but the council could not blame his ''want of coolness and presence of mind, which it is the lot of few men to possess''.

In 1837, Mitchell returned to the United Kingdom, wrote a book about his expeditions, begged for a knighthood and returned to Australia four years later as a Sir.

He briefly held an elected position on the Legislative Council and made a fourth expedition into the eastern interior of Australia.

During the 1840s he again returned to the United Kingdom but came back to Sydney to write another book, The Australian Geography, which placed Australia in the centre of the world map and became a school text in NSW in the 1850s.

Mitchell, who was a bit of a rogue in the colony and was regularly accused of insubordination, was also involved in one of the last duals in Australia with a chap called Stuart Donaldson who had publicly made some inaccurate, presumably defamatory, remarks about him. On September 27, 1851, each fired three shots and it was reported that one bullet went through Donaldson's hat while another went within an inch of Mitchell's throat.

In 1855, while surveying a line of road between Nelligen and Braidwood, south of Sydney, Mitchell developed pneumonia and died at his home in Sydney on October 5. Mary survived Mitchell but five of their 12 children did not. 

Craigend, which Mitchell had sold years earlier, had a succession of owners and was later converted into a hospital, then a boarding house in the early 1900s. The Acropolis of Sydney was demolished in 1822 to make way for a large block of flats (below).